Rod bending machine



Dec. 8, 1953 M, E|DAL 2,661,787

ROD BENDING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

ROY MEIDAL.

DQWM'K.

ATTORNEK Dec. 8. 1953 R |D ROD BENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1952 x 1 INVENTOR.

R0 Y JZZ'IBAL.

LJMMKM Dec. 8, 1953 R. M. EIDAL ROD BENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 5, 1952 INVENTOR. ZPOY ZZEJDAL.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. d, 1953 stirs? FFECE This invention pertains to improvements in rod bending machines, and is particularly directed to an improved machine for effecting a plurality of multiple bends in rods used for forming bar joist structures and the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a machine for automatically forming a plurality of bends or kinks along a rod structure in a highly efiicient rapid and accurate manner.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a rod bending machine capable of taking straight bars and with a single longitudinal movement bend said bar into a series of angular positions accurately spaced longitudinally of the finished bar structure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bar bending machine adapted to take a series of bars or straight rods and bend them automatically into a plurality of angularly disposed portions in an automatic and continuous rapid manner while at the same time providing the finished structure with accurately bent and positioned portions.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a rod bending machine having a plurality of bending links mounted on a longitudinal slide structure which initially support one or more straight rods or bars at the beginning of the operating cycle and which is operated by tension on a main draw cable for progressively and automatically effecting a plurality of bends in the rod structure at the completion of the operating cycle.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a rod bending machine incorporating the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rod bending machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing the position of the linkage and workpiece at the beginning of the operating cycle.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view similar to Fig.3, but showing the position of the operating linkage at the completion of the rod bending operation.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5a is a transverse section on the line Sir-5a of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the DOSL tion of the work and bending anvils at the beginning of the operating cycle.

Fig. '7 shows the condition of work and bending anvils at one of the initial stages of operation of the machine.

Claims. (Cl. 153--20) Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a second condition of operation with the bending work partially completed. j

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the final position of Work and bending anvils at the conclusion of the bending operation.

Fig. 10 is an illustration of a typical bar joist utilizing the bent rod structure provided by the rod bending machine.

Fig. 11 is a cross section on the line ll--H of Fig. 10.

As illustrative of one embodiment of this invention, there is shown a rod bending machine having a main frame consisting of a pair of longitudinal channel irons I5 which are suitably supported rigidly on a plurality of upstanding legs it connected together by suitable tie rods ll. On the top surfaces [8 of the channel irons l5 are rigidly fixed two rectangular longitudinal bar members It spaced apart to form a longitudinal slot 20 by the surfaces 2| of the bar members [9. A suitable finished Work receiving rack 22 may be provided if desired to one side of the longitudinal barmembers l9 and slot 20.

To one end of the bars Hi there is rigidly clamped a block 23 which is held in place by suitable T-slot bolts or the like 24 passing thru the slot 20 and having nuts 25 foradjustably clamping the block 23 in desired position on the bars It. An adjustable block 26 may also be positioned on the bar member l 9 having a stop abutment surface 2'! and held in place in the slot 20 by a usual bolt and nut indicated at 28. A side stop piece 36a is also fixed on the block 23 to hold the end of the work W in proper alignment during the bending operation. Pivotally mounted on a suitable pin 28 fixed in the block 23 is a link 36 which is connected at its outer end thru a pin 3i to a bell crank link 32. The bell crank link 32 is pivotally mounted on a pin 33 which has a portion 34 nicely sliding between the surfaces 2! of the slot 2B between the members l9 and also a head portion 35 on its underside to hold it in engaging edge 3'! preferably located substantially on the axis of the pin 29. Work engaging anvil piece 38 is fixed on the bell crank link 32 with its work engaging edge 39 located substantially on the axis of pivoting of the pin 3! while another work engaging anvil piece 40 is fixed on the bell crank link 32 with its work engaging edge 4| located substantially on the axis of pivoting of the pin 33. All of the work engaging anvil pieces 38, 38 and All may be adjustably mounted on their respective links if desired for precise setting and for varying the depth of bends to be made in the workpiece bar or rod W.

A cable pulley 42 is journaled on a stud 53 fixed in the bell crank link 32 closely adjacent to the pivot pin 33 while :a second cable pulley A l is journaled on a stud '45 fixed in the 'outerend of the cell crank portion of the lever 32 as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4. There is also provided "a stop member 155 which is fixed to -.the link .30 or Sta and the like having an abutment surface 41 adapted to engage the abutment surface -4'3 of the bell crank link 32 so ascto limit theswinging motion of the bell crank lever 32 toward the links 36 or Site. It is understood that the 'mem ber 46 could be made adjustable on the link 38 :to vary this relative :swinginganovement.

A wholeiserie oi :links 39, 3M, 36b, 'etc. :and 1 links 32, 3211, etc., the number depending ion the desired numberoi TbBIIdS to lie-made in the work imay be provided 'each constructed :as described for the links 313 and 32 above. rEa'ch 'of :the sets of :linksare interconnected as best shown in Figs. 3 and :4 thru 'pivot pins such as 3-3 which are slidably mounted in the slot 26 :between the rmemberyltfi as described.

A main operating or draw cable $9 is threaded River the pulleys s2 and At, the cable '49 passing .over theipulley l2 between the-work W and the pulley, andipassing overtheoutsideof the pulley M away from the work "W,was best'se'en in Figs. 23 and 4. The cuter-.end-iof thecable is-connected by a suitable eyelet :58 etc :astud :54 :fixed -.to

"the last he'll crank lever 32X as best seen .in Figs. Band -14 at :a point-*similar-to the studs fifiiiII-lihfi other bell crank ileverzlinks. The opposite -.end or 'takein end of :the draw cable 49 iswrapped raroundza 'winch drum 52,:Eig. ;1,*which-..drum.is

driven by suitable winch .mechanism and motor indicated generally at 5:3 .in -.a 'well known manmer. A second u'eturn cahhe 54 is also attached around :the stud iii in 2a :suitable manner and operatesiovera winch drumrfifi drivenby asuitable winch :an'd motorfit :on the opposite endof :the draw bench :members 1 -9, -"as best seen in sliig. l.

Bhe operation of the rod bending machine is substantially as ifollows:

The workpiece comprising 12. rod or :bar W :is splaceddn the machineas besmseeniinFigs. 3 and 16 with the work "contacting anvil 3'5 .and anvil to one-side of the-bar and withthe work contacting anvils 38 on the opposite side of the bar. With all 'of the links in 'stretched rout position as efiected by 1 operating the winch 55 and return cable lit, the bar may preferably be positioned endwise by abutmentof itsend 5! with-the abutment surface *2! of the stop piece 26, sufilcient extra length being :allowed on the work to take care of all of the-bends .as-the work isoperated upon. The operating or =draw winch 52 is then energized ,thru its :motor 53 to cause the draw cable A9 to be pulled, -.to the right .in Riga .3 land 4. As :this cable 4.9 lis-drawn in, the .first thing that happens is that the bell crank link -32, Fig. '3, pivots around -.its pin 33 causing the pulley M :and stud 45 to rock .in the direction indicated by the arrow 58 which causes the outer endof the bell 'crank link -.32 and the .work engaging .anvil 38 to swing in the direction indicated by the-arrow .59 so .as to begin bending-of the bar astshown in Fig. Lthe swinging motion :in the direction of the arrow 59 continuing until the I abutment surface t; on the stop piece 68 on the link so engages the surface it of the bell crank link 32 as described and as best seen in Fig. l. Thus the first bend made in the W. Continued application of pullin power on the cable 49 causes subsequent links 38o:32a etc. up thru 33K and 32X, Figs. 3 and 4, to assume the positions shown in Fig. 4 to thus bend the bar as shownin Figs. "Sand sinto a plurality of kinked positions accurately located relative to one another and automatically by the continued apgplicationof pulling power to the cable 653. The aforementioned progressive operation is autom'aticallyeffected by the interaction of the work- ;piece on uniquely arranged machine parts. It is to "be understood that any number of bars can be bent simultaneously by making the anvil pieces 35, 38 and to ofzsufflcient height and laysing several .bars .as desired one on top of the other during the .bending'operatlon. .At the con clusion .of the bending operation, as .shown .in Fig. .9, the winch {i5 .is stopped and the slight spring and tension in the mechanism and .in the bars being bent automatically releases sufiicient tension to allow the bars .to be loosely picked up from'the apparatus in the position shown in Fig. 4. The bars thus preparedas shown at Na in Fig. 10 are then welded to suitable angle pieces 69 to form the well known bar joist oi" commercial use.

To put the machine ready foroperationagain for the .next .set of bendin operations the return winch 55 operated by its motor is then energized to pull .all of the linkages back to straight position, as shown in Fig. 3 ready for receipt of another set of bars .as shown in Figs. .3 and 6 and the repetition of the aforementionedbending cycle.

'While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred .form of the in vention, any suitable means .may .be utilized to actuate the cables 49 and 5t. It .is also to be understood :that the apparatus is capable .of

.mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such .mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation :a-s fall within the scope of the appendent claims are intended to beincluded herein.

Havink thus fullyset forth anddescribed this invention what is claimed as :new and desired .to be obtained by the United States Letters Patent 1. In a rod bending machine having a frame, a pair of guide bars forming a-longitudinal guide slot on said .frame, a series of links pivotally interconnected at their outer ends, means for pivotallymounting one end of'said series of links on a pivot fixed to said frame, means for slidably mounting every other one of .said intercon-' necting pivots forlongitudinal movement in said slot, a pullout cable connected to the opposite end of said series of said links .from :said pivot fixed 'on said frame, and a draw cable .iixed .to said opposite end of said series of links, :ca'ble pulley means on every other one of said .links operatively engaged by said cable to causesaid .links to .fold together, power .means on said frame to pull said draw cable, and work engaging anvils on said every other one of said links arranged to alternately engage each side of a workpiece to be bent in said machine so that said workpiece automatically causes progressive bends to be formed therein upon actuation of said draw-cable.

2. In a rod bending machines having aframe,

. 5 a pair of guide bars forming a longitudinal guide slot onsaid frame, a series of links pivotally interconnected at their outer ends, means for pivotally mounting one end of said series of links on a pivot fixed to said frame, means for slidably mounting every other one of said interconnecting pivots for longitudinal movement in said slot, a pull out cable connected to the opposite end of said series of said links from said pivot fixed or, said frame, and a draw cable fixed to said opposite end of said series of links, cable pulley means on every other one of said links operatively engaged by said cable to cause said links to fold together, power means on said frame to pull said draw cable, work engaging anvils on said every other one of said links arranged to alternately engage each side of a workpiece to be bent in said machine so that said workpiece automatically causes progressive bends to be formed therein upon actuation of said draw cable, and

stop means interacting between pairs of links to individually limit relative pivotal movement of said links.

8. A rod bending machine comprising a frame, a fixed pivot pin on one end of said frame, a pivot pin arranged for longitudinal sliding movement on said frame, a first link pivotally connected at one end to said fixed pivot, a bell-crank link having one arm pivotally connected at its outer end to the other end of said first link and pivotally connected at its intermediate point to said slidable pivot pin, a, stud fixed in the outer end of the other arm of said bell-crank link, a cable roller journaled on said stud, a draw cable fixed to said bell-crank link at its intermediate point of pivotal mounting and passing over said cable roller on the side of said cable roller opposite from the pivotal connection between said links, and power means for pulling said draw cable and moving said slidable pivot pin toward said fixed pivot, an anvil piece fixed on said first link at its connection with said fixed pivot, anvil piece fixed on said bell-crank link at its intermediate pivotal connection, and an anvil piece fixed on one of said links at the pivotal connection between said links.

4. A rod bending machine comprising a frame, a fixed pivot pin on one end of said frame, a pivot pin arranged for longitudinal sliding movement on said frame, a first link pivotally connected at one end to said fixed pivot, a bell-crank link having one arm pivotally connected at its outer end to the other end of said first link and pivotally connected at its intermediate point to said slidable pivot pin, a stud fixed in the outer end of the other arm of said bell-crank link, a cable roller journaled on said stud, a draw cable connected to said bell-crank link at its intermediate point of pivotal mounting and passing over said cable roller on the side thereof opposite from the pivotal connection between said links, power means for pulling said draw cable and moving said slidable pivot pin toward said fixed pivot pin, a work engaging anvil fixed on said first link, a work contacting edge on said work engaging anvil lying substantially on the axis of said fixed pivot pin and facing toward said cable, and oppositely facing work contacting anvils on said bell-crank link comprising, a work contacting edge lying substantially on the axis of said sliding pivot pin and facing toward said cable, and a work contacting edge lying substantially on the pivotal connection between said links and facing away from said cable.

5. A rod bending machine comprising a frame,

a fixed pivot pin on one end of said frame, a pivot pin arranged for longitudinal sliding movement on said frame, a first link pivotally connected at one end to said fixed pivot, a bell-crank link having one arm pivotally connected at its outer end to the other end of said first link and pivotally connected at its intermediate point to said slidable pivot pin, a stud fixed in the outer end of the other arm of said bell-crank link, a cable rollerjournaled on said stud, a draw cable connected to said bell-crank link at its intermediate point of pivotal mounting and passing over said cable roller on the side thereof opposite from the pivotal connection between said links, power means for pulling said draw cable and moving said slidable pivot pin toward said fixed pivot pin, a work engaging anvil fixed on said first link, a work contacting edge on said work engaging anvil lying substantially on the axis of said fixed pivot pin and facing toward said cable, and oppositely facing work contacting anvils on said bell-crank link comprising, a work contacting edge lying substantially on the axis of said sliding pivot pin and facing toward said cable, and a work contacting edge lying substantially on and facing away from said cable, the pivotal connection between said links, and stop means fixed intermediate the ends of said first link having an abutment surface facing toward said cable and engaging said bell-crank link adjacent said cable roller to limit relative movement of said slidable pivot pin toward said fixed pivot pin.

6. A rod bending machine comprising, a frame, a fixed pivot on said frame, a series of pivotally interconnected links having one end connected to said fixed pivot, means for slidably mounting every other pivotal connection between said links on said frame, a pull-out cable connected to the other end of said series of links, power means for pulling on said pull-out cable to stretch out said series of links in a straight line, bell-crank arm portions on every other one of said links in said series, cable pulleys journaled on the outer ends of said bell-crank arm portions, further cable pulleys journaled on said links having said bell-crank arm portions substantially at the pivotal connection of each of said bell-crank arm portions with the adjacent link, a draw cable fixed to the outer end of the last of said series of links and passing over said pulleys so as to cause said links to fold together and said sliding pivots to move toward said fixed pivot, oppositely facing work engaging anvils fixed on said links adjacent their pivotal connections, and power means for pulling said draw cable.

7. A rod bending machine comprising, a frame, a fixed pivot on said frame, a series of pivotally interconnected links having one end connected to said fixed pivot, means for slid-ably mounting every other pivotal connection between said links on said frame, a pull-out cable connected to the other end of said series of links, power means for pulling on said pull-out cable to stretch out said series of links in a straight line, bell-crank arm portions on every other one of said links in said series, cable pulleys journaled on the outer ends of said bell-crank arm portions, further cable pulleys journaled on said links having said bellcrank arm portions substantially at the pivotal connection of each of said bell-crank arm portions with the adjacent link, a draw cable fixed to the outer end of said series of links and passing over said pulleys so as to cause said links to fold together and said sliding pivots to move toward said fixed pivot, oppositely facing work ena fixed pivot on said frame, a series of pivotally interconnected links having one end connected to said fixed pivot, means for slidably mounting every other. pivotal connection between said links on said frame, a pull-out cable connected to the other end of said series of links, power meansior pulling on said pull-out cable to stretch out said series-of links in-a straight line, bell-crank arm portions on every other one of saidlinks in said series, cable pulleysjournaled on the outer ends of saidbell-crank arm portions, further. cable pulleys journaled on said links having said bellcrank arm portions substantially at the pivotal connection of each of said bell-crankarm portions with the adjacent link, a draw cable fixed to the other end of said seriescf links and passing over said pulleys so as to cause said .linksto fold together and said sliding pivots to move toward said fixed pivot, power means for pulling said draw cable, work engaging anvils on said links having said bell-crank arm portions having work engaging ends facing in a direction toward said bell-crank armportions and lying substantially. on the axis ofsaid slidable pivot pins and said fixed pivot pin, and further work engaging anvils having work engaging ends facing in a direction away from the outer ends of said bellcrank arm portions and lying on theaxis of pivotal interconnection of said links other. thansaid sliding and fixed link pivotal connections.

9. In a rod bending machine, a frame, means for supporting a rod to be bent on said frame comprising a series of pivotally interconnected links, a series of longitudinally disposed work engaging, anvils alternately, presented .on each side ofthe workpiece'when placed in saidrmachine, and means for successively actuating said links under the controlof the workpiece being bent so as toprogressively move alternate work engaging anvils to one side of the workpiece against the workand between work engaging anvils on the opposite side of said workpiece.

10. Ina rod bending machine, a frame, means for supporting arod to be bent on said frame comprising. a series of pivotally interconnected links, aseries of longitudinally disposed work engaging anvils alternately presented on each side of the workpiece when placed in said machine, and. means for successively actuating said links from the workpiece being bent so as to progressivelymove alternate work engaging anvils to .one sideofthe workpiece against the work and between work engaging anvils on the opposite side ofcsaid workpiece, and means for progressively moving each alternate work engaging anvil betweenpairs of anvilson oppositev sides of said work in response to the bent condition of the workpieceso as to automatically complete the progressive bending operation of a series of links in the work to be operated upon.

ROY M. EIDAL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 804,029 Nilson Nov. 7, 1905 939,944 Drexler Aug. 10, 1909 1,791,620 Hibbard Feb. 20, 1931 2,086,736 Palmer July 13, 1937 2,281,595 Plant May 5, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 867,035: France June 30, 1941 590,051 Great Britain July '7, 1947 

